Happy Monday morning! *inserts coffee IV* Today it's my pleasure to introduce my co-author for the Witch Hunt: Of the Blood Anthology, K.L. Schwengel! She just released First of Her Kind, book one of Darkness and Light. Having collaborated with her, I can tell you she is one talented wordsmith. I love her writing and this novel has already won top spot on my TBR list!
She's here today to talk about why she does what she does. But before I get to her guest post, let's take a look at the cover and blurb for First of Her Kind:

It seems everyone wants to dictate what Ciara does with her life: Serve the Goddess, destroy the Goddess, do as you promised your aunt -- all Ciara really wants is to keep the two magics she possesses from ripping her apart.

And that's not going to be easy.

Not only is her earth magic in complete opposition to her other power, blood ties pull her in divergent directions as well. And then there's Bolin, the man sworn to protect her. There's no denying the growing attraction between them, but is it Ciara he wants, or her power?

None of which will matter if Ciara can't overcome her fear and learn how to use her gifts. No one knows the depths of the ancient power she possesses, or what will happen if it manages to escape her control. Will she lose herself entirely? Or be forever caught between darkness and light?

Guest Post

Why Do I Do What I Do?

One question a lot of creative types get is, "Why do you _________." Fill in the blank with paint, draw, dance, act, write . . . or anything that is a passion.

In terms of writing, my quick answer has always been, "For the same reason I breathe." It sounds rather flippant and so very grandiose, but it hits pretty close to the truth. Obviously if I stop breathing there's going to be a mad scramble to find a suitable boat and some flaming arrows for my Viking Funeral

and some of you will be getting three days funeral leave.

If I stop writing – and, for the record, I did try once – the only Viking funeral will be for that bit of my psyche that needs to put words down on paper, regardless of whether or not anyone will ever read them. I have always had muses pestering me. Always felt that drive, the need, the desire to create the images in my head. They've manifested themselves in drawing, painting, photography, and writing. Way too many muses for one person but, well, who am I to argue.

It's something I can't not do.

Which takes us back to that line above where I admit I did try to stop. Why? Partly, life interfered. Partly, self-doubt. That pesky, niggling, black-hearted little beast that likes to sit on our shoulders and tell us we suck and shouldn't be wasting our time on such a fruitless pursuit. But even during that period, my muses would not back off. I have file folders full of handwritten notes, scenes, character descriptions, and other assorted snippets that I had to get out of my head.

Yes, we writers have whole worlds buzzing around in our heads. The need to get them out of there is what drives us to spend hours in seclusion, neglecting our friends and families for sake of our sanity.

Stop laughing. I am too, sane. Well, sort of.

And no, writing is not easy. Not for this author, anyhow. Stories don't come to me fully formed. Often they come as a single character in a situation, or the vague hint of an idea that flitters by like a will-o-wisp on the wind. My current book First of Her Kind came to me in the line, "There was nothing for it, in another turn of the glass, Meriol would be dead." Yeah. Thanks, muse. You want me to do what with that? Let's not forget how characters take on lives of their own. They fight the direction I want them to go. They argue. They do things I didn't expect. Sometimes they abandon me and I sit, staring at the page feeling lost and unsure. Sometimes, as in my current WIP, a minor character demands more of a role. Yep, goes out, gets himself some big shot musely agent, next thing I know he's got more page time and his own point of view!

Of course, I have a way of dealing with those types. Mwahahahahahaaha!

*ahem*

So, there you have it. I write because I have to. Plain and simple. And heck, it's sometimes even fun. When that scene finally comes together, when a reader tells you how much they enjoyed your book – yeah, take that self-doubt.

Author Bio

K. L. Schwengel lives in southeast Wisconsin on a small farm with her husband, more than a handful of Australian Shepherds, Her Royal Highness Princess Fiona (the cat) and assorted livestock. Growing up as the youngest daughter of a librarian, she spent more time between stacks of books and secluded away in the dusty archives than was even remotely normal. With so many characters and ideas spinning in her head, she had to get them out onto paper or risk what little sanity she possessed. (Try being the youngest of nine children and see how sane you stay.) When not sitting in front of a keyboard, or scribbling furiously in a notebook, K. L. spends her time training and trialing her dogs, finding ways to avoid housework by doing anything else, spending quality time with friends and family, and sorting out arguments between various creative muses. Though she has published a few poems and non-fiction articles, her real passion is fantasy and urban fantasy.